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Honey-Lemon Poppy Seed Bread {& a Rusted Chain necklace giveaway!}

Keep It ShutThanks for all the support this week as my newest book and DVD Bible study series KEEP IT SHUT: What to Say, How to Say it & When to Say Nothing at All released.

Despite the fact that I am still home in my sweats recovering from horrible bronchitis, it has been fun to see people talking online about how they have grown from reading it. {Which makes it a WHOLE lot easier to put my heart out there as I share my utter failures in this area, which I do in the book!}

Now, some more freebies for you as we continue the launch week!

First, one of the key verses in the book is all about our words being gracious and sweet:

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

rusted chain necklaceThe talented Beki, from The Rusted Chain made a necklace based on this verse and my book. Wow! I am so thrilled! Her jewelry is adorable and she has been featured in such places as popular magazines, The Pioneer Woman on her Food Network show, and her pieces have been worn by Candace Cameron Bure, Martha Stewart, some of the Duck Dynasty ladies, Miranda Lambert, Deanna Daughtry (wife of singer Chris Daughtry) and more.

So, in addition to the giveaway from earlier this week of a KEEP IT SHUT bundle that includes the book, Bible study DVD, one study guide, AND a Kindle Fire! (you can still enter that giveaway until January 27 so click here to do so!) today I am giving away one of these necklaces!

And, I am posting a recipe that is in my book. Because the book talks about making our words gracious and sweet like it says in Proverbs 16:24, I include a recipe for honey-lemon poppy seed bread to make to take to someone with a card full of sweet words for them. (And the book gives a whimsical tag to photocopy with the verse and a cute-as-punch bumble bee hive. It is full of fun bonus material in the back of the book such as this.)

To be entered to win the necklace, simply leave a comment on this post with the answer to this:

With whom is it hardest for you to speak sweetly sometimes?

With me, it is my hubby. Oh I HATE that this is so! BUT, I think if you ask him he’d say he’s seen me make progress over the years as God taught me the truths I share in this book and Bible study!)

Ok…here is the recipe. Don’t forget to leave a comment!

Honey-Lemon Poppy Seed bread. As pretty as it is tasty! From karenehman.com

Honey-Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

As pretty as it is tasty!

Ingredients:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided

2 T honey

4 large eggs

1/4 cup grated lemon zest

3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon pure almond extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Glaze ingredients:

2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Dash of almond extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8-inch loaf pans. With an electric mixer, cream the butter, 2 cups sugar, and honey in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time.  Add lemon zest.  Mix in 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and almond extract.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Combine the flour and buttermilk mixtures together mixing until smooth. Stir in poppy seeds. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a cake tester comes out clean. If the top begins to brown too much, cover with a piece of foil gently set on top.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Let loaves cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and set them on wax paper or foil. Drizzle the lemon syrup over them. Let loaves cool completely.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and almond extract in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

For giving: Once the cake and icing have completely cooled and set, wrap in foil, being careful not to wrap the top and sides too tightly due to the icing. You may also give in bakery boxes designed for 9-inch loaf pans. You can find these at craft and gourmet food stores. You may also carefully slice the loaf and arrange some slices on a plate and cover with plastic wrap before giving. Whatever the presentation, be sure to include a copy of the tag featuring Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

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108 Comments

  1. I am ashamed to admit this, but I have had a very difficult time in the past year speaking sweetly to my mother. The past year has been full of life-changing decisions for both of us- and they have put a burden on our relationship. There have been lots of hurt feelings (on both sides, I know) and harsh words spoken (more from me than from her… I can admit that.) She will always be my mother, but as I grow older I hope that she can be a friend too… I want to focus my words towards saving what’s left of that relationship this year, not putting more of a strain on it.

  2. I am pretty good about being upbeat and speaking sweetly to everybody…even those who treat me like crap….but, because I’m with him all the time, maybe my sweet hubby gets me in my “bad moods” more then anybody…usually when I couldn’t sleep because of severe pain. Thanks for this giveaway and God bless!

  3. I would say that it is too easy to spout off in frustration at my children! I love being a mom and have amazing sons, but too often my worry over them and their choices can leave me expressing that concern in sarcasm. Oh, that I would learn the precious art of when to be silent!

  4. I loved the book! I just finished listening to it on Audible on my way home from work tonight. I have listened to it both to and from work and it has helped me to “pause before I pounce” with a frustrating coworker. Thank you for sharing yourself and for this book!

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